Iran: Deaf Get Access to JESUS Film in Persian Sign Language

Source: Mission Network News, September 23, 2021

Jesus Film Project recently released a new translation of the “JESUS” film. But it’s not a spoken translation. It’s in Persian Sign Language!

Persian, also known as Farsi, is the nation of Iran’s official language. And there are over 400,000 Deaf in Iran. The “JESUS” film has been available in Farsi for a while. But now, Iranian Deaf communities also have access to the movie and its powerful representation of the gospel.

Jesus Film Project was connected with a woman in Dallas, Texas who helped with the Persian Sign Language in the film. Now the next step is to get the word out!

But that can be easier said than done, especially in a closed country like Iran.

A friend of Jesus Film Project is getting micro SD cards into Iran with the “JESUS” film in Persian Sign Language. And it is also available on Jesus Film Project’s website.

[A spokesperson named] Brian says, “We’re connecting with other ministries who do Deaf ministry, and so we try to network with them,…letting people know this is out there.”

The Persian Sign Language translation is part of Jesus Film Project’s initiative, Mission 865. The ministry hopes to complete 865 translations of the “JESUS” film in minority languages by 2025.

The full story includes prayer points.

More good news from Iran: an imprisoned convert who had gone missing has been found  (Middle East Concern).

Middle East: Eight Barriers to the Gospel

Source: Arab World Media, September 28, 2021

We are acutely aware of the many barriers Muslims face on their journey to faith. The parable Jesus told of the sower and the seed (Mark 4) resonates deeply with where we are in our ministry in the Middle East. Some places are as resistant as hardened pathways. Others are unreceptive, like rocky ground, while others are choked with thorns. But the seed of God’s Word is falling into good soil and yielding a harvest as many are choosing to follow Jesus.

Download a prayer guide about eight barriers to the gospel in the Middle East. Consider joining AWM members, friends, and supporters who will be praying through this guide on October 8.

Chad: The Multiplication Process at Work

Source: Partners International, September 1, 2021

In the lowlands of Chad, the Lord is moving among the unreached Bua people. The Bua are a nomadic group that follows a blend of Islam and animism.

One of our local leaders, Abdu, served this people group for the past few years, sharing the gospel with them. During that time, he discipled new believers and planted three house churches. But a few months ago, Abdu had to flee the area because of intense persecution.

Mwamba was one of Abdu’s disciples. He participated in the church work and spent many hours learning about Jesus, asking questions about the Bible and helping Abdu serve the Bua people. But, after Abdu left, Mwamba moved to the city to do business.

One night in the city, he had a dream where the Lord told him, “Mwamba, Mwamba, get up and cross the river. Go back and feed my flocks.” When he woke up the next morning, he committed to go back and serve the three house churches he left behind.

God blessed Mwamba’s obedience. One month after moving back among the Bua, he planted seven house churches, baptized seven men and ten women, and saw the Lord move in mighty ways in the community.

Read the full story.

India: Healing Leads to Religious Conversion Scandal

Source: Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin, September 14, 2021

In July this year, Gaya District in the north Indian state of Bihar found itself at the center of a religious conversion scandal after it was reported that hundreds of Mahadalits had left Hinduism and converted to Christianity. Indian mainstream media reported the story as a case of exploitation of superstitious villagers. “Reports claim the rampant conversions are being carried out under the pretext of curing maladies.” But, reading further, one can only conclude that the Spirit of God is moving in that place.

The story begins with Kewla Devi, a Mahadalit village woman whose chronically ill son was not responding to medical treatment. When someone urged Kewla to seek the help of Christians in adjoining Wajidpur village, Kewla—with nothing to lose—did. The Christians prayed and her son recovered.

So remarkable was this miraculous healing that, not only did Kewla and her whole family become followers of Jesus but so too did around 135 Mahadalit families in Belwadih village. The new Christians—who no longer use vermilion to mark their foreheads, nor pray to Hindu gods or goddesses—all insist they converted freely of their own will, without any inducement.

Read the full story. It includes links to Indian news sources as well as prayer points.

Special Edition: A Roundup of Resources on Afghanistan

The Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif. Photo by Steve Evans/Flikr.

Greetings, friends!

Our next regular edition of Missions Catalyst is not due out until October 6, but a few things came up that might interest you. All of them connect to the situation in Afghanistan.

1. Hear Bob Blincoe speak from the heart.

On a recent edition of The Mission Matters podcast, Bob Blincoe of Frontiers joins Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison to talk about what’s happening and what might be next in Afghanistan. One big question: Should we stop going there, or is now the time to call forth a new generation willing to move toward danger and not away from it for the sake of the gospel’s advance?

Listen to (or watch) the episode, Afghanistan: What’s Happening and What’s Next? (28 minutes).

2. Think again about playing it safe.

Similarly, on the All Things podcast, Jen Oshman asks, have those of us in the American Church have given ourselves over to the idols of safety and security? Have we justified our wealth, health, and comfort, abandoning our call to heart things for the glory of God and the joy of all people?

Listen to the episode, Missions and Ministry and Our Idols of Safety and Security (22 minutes) and read The American Staying in Afghanistan (The Gospel Coalition).

3. Reflect and pray with One Way Ministries.

You might also be interested in a recent segment reflecting on the crisis from the Brand New Day podcast. This one could be easily be included in a worship service or prayer gathering.

Listen to the episode, Afghanistan: A Living Parable (6 minutes).

4. Consider Shane’s tips on welcoming refugees.

We haven’t seen anything like this since the end of the Vietnam War. While government agencies work around the clock and refugee care organizations rapidly retool, many American Christians may be asking “What in the world?!” and “How can we help?”

Read Shane Bennett’s article for Denison Forum, 95,000 Afghan refugees may come to the US: How will Christians help?

blessings,

PS: Did you catch last week’s events calendar in our Resource Reviews? It includes a long list of things to do in October, some free and online.

An Unexpected Journey | Tea with the Global Church

  1. Podcast: Follow One Maverick’s Unexpected Journey
  2. Article: Drinking Tea with Leaders of the Global Church
  3. Website: A Directory of Missionaries Raising Support
  4. Article: Is The World Still a Waffle?
  5. Mission Events: Things to Do or View in October

Read or share the email edition or scroll down for individual articles.

Podcast: Follow One Maverick’s Unexpected Journey

Source: Pioneers-USA

The Maverick Podcast explores the unexpected journeys of spiritual seekers as they buck cultural norms and religious expectations to follow Jesus. The first season follows the story of Bishara, a young Muslim man from Central Africa who had everything going for him until a chance encounter dramatically changed the course of his life.

From strange dreams and guns that misfire to imprisonments and miraculous healings, Bishara’s story may sound too wild to be true.

To get to the bottom of it all, host Sarah Lewis talks to those close to him—and experts around the world—to find out what would make a man like Bishara risk it all in pursuit of truth.

Listen to the podcast. Just two of the eight short episodes have been released so far, but they come out once a week. Disclaimer: I helped create this. But I think it’s great and would love to see the word get out! Can you help by sharing it with people you think would like it?

Check out several new mission-related podcasts from other sources:

  • Doing Theology. Thinking Mission, with Jackson Wu and others from Mission ONE, launched in August. Each episode is about an hour long and digs deep into critical issues.
  • On September 28, One Way Ministries will launch a new podcast called One80 featuring testimonies and stories of transformation. You can listen to the trailer now. It sounds quite inspiring.

Article: Drinking Tea with Leaders of the Global Church

Source: Lausanne Global Analysis, September 2021

When Leaders Drink Tea Together: A Critique of Western Christian Leadership in Light of Global Trends, by Mary Ho.

“We are living in a global era where what the global church needs are global leaders with a global mindset, not just Western leadership styles and writings exported to the rest of the world,” says Mary. Her article includes good data and analysis of leadership styles along with practical tips.

Explore this issue of Lausanne Global Analysis. It also includes articles on Christianity in the UK, reaching Israelis in Berlin, and growing churches in hostile contexts.

Website: A Directory of Missionaries Raising Support

Source: Ergatas

Most missionaries raise the bulk of their support from people they know—or get to know along the way. But what if you’ve tapped out your networks, or what if, as a donor, you would love to support individuals in a certain kind of ministry but don’t know any?

Ergatas is basically a cross-agency directory of missionaries raising support. It can be searched using detailed filters so users can find missionaries who share their vision. The service is free to use and takes no part of any donations.

So far, it’s pretty small, and only includes about 60 workers sent out from the US, Canada, Australia, and UK (although they hope to expand). More than 100 organizations have been approved to participate.

Learn more about Ergatas. Their about page answers many questions.

In the past we’ve written about several services that connect would-be missionaries with opportunities. Mission Next is a good place to start.

Do you need to put more effort into raising support? Check out a bunch of helpful worksheets from Scott Morton or listen to the replay of a recent webinar on how to prepare for year-end giving campaigns from Tailored Fundraising.

Article: Is the World Still a Waffle?

Source: Mission Frontiers, September-October 2021

The world is a very different place than it was nearly 50 years ago when the people group paradigm was birthed. Should the missions community still view the world as a waffle? Is traditional ethnolinguistic people group thinking still relevant?

The current issue of Mission Frontiers addresses how the waffle barriers are changing. Global trends are creating new social dynamics and changing both the barriers and boundaries by which groups are defined. New hybrid, trans-national and dynamic groupings must be considered.

Read Mission Frontiers. You might want to start with Dan Scribner’s editorial, but don’t miss the articles from Asian, African, and Latin American voices sharing how people group thinking and information have impacted their ministries.  

See also a conversation with Dave Datema on The Universal Particularism of Panta Ta Ethne (The Mission Matters Podcast) or read Len Bartlotti’s 2020 article challenging the model, Reimagining and Re-envisioning People Groups (International Journal of Frontier Missiology).